"Who ever said, life was ever going to be easy?"

Have you ever heard this "saying" before?

I'm sure you have.

In fact I'm sure you asked those around you, you would be hard pressed to find many, if any, who have not!

...Even more so, we've all asked ourselves this same question.

In fact as we go through life it becomes more than just a saying, or a question to us. We notice how it becomes so rhetorical, asked over, and over, and over again!

Why? Because we already know the answer. Don't we? Life is not easy! ...In fact it's never easy. All we have to do is just live, look around us and go through life's challenges, life's problems. From how we pay the bills, to our jobs, to illness, abuse, adultery, murder, drugs, death.....the myriad of possibilities, the list?   ...Goes on and on.

So as Christians, we still suffer from the same problems that plague the fallen world around us. Do we not?

There is no wall to keep us from the pains of this world, no protective "bubble" we can hide in.

I was personally reminded of this as I have been going through a difficult time in my life. I remembered, even with deep faith, knowing who my Savior is, life's problems and struggles can still take a toll on my own faith.

You see it does not matter how deep, or "great" a faith we really have. We all at times can become very strained, and worn in the trials of this life. They can wear us down to the point where our faith is stressed and we can begin to lose hope. A place where we begin to question the sovereignty Of God. His love and concern for our lives, and those we care for.  ...A place of feeling hopeless.

Perhaps you are in that place today?

A place where you are going through an extremely hard trial. One in which you feel your life is completely falling apart. Where you feel as if you are "hanging from a thread" ...and most of the thread is already worn away!

But it's in times like these, especially these, when our faith is strained, that we must remember this. That just because we may feel that our situation is hopeless , it does not make God hopeless! Nor, does it change His sovereignty, His love and concern for our lives. We may change, "like the wind", our feelings, our thoughts, our hope, our outlook. And understandably so! With the trials that come along in this life, after all, let's be honest with ourselves, we really are, "only human". Are we not?

But God is not like us, He cannot be shaken, He does not change:

              "For I am the LORD, I do not change..."

                  (Malachi 3:6 (1st part, NKJV)

So no matter what, or how we are feeling, God is unshakable, unmovable, He is our "constant", our "steady ship":

"For who is God, except the LORD?

          And who is a rock, except our God?"

                 (Psalm 18:31 NKJV)

You see as humans we gauge our lives by what goes on around us. The wind changes, and in turn, so do we! Times get hard, we get scared. Our trust can change instantly. Easily dictated by the circumstances we find ourselves in. As humans we are very limited in our knowledge of all things, circumstances (etc.) that go on around us.  ...Even more so, our "ability" to see the future!

There is however something beautiful in all this. As Christians, we serve a God who knows, and loves us. Who watches out for our souls, our very beings, everything that encompasses who we are. Our sovereign Savior!

Now yes, life is hard. We were (are) never guaranteed an "easy life". Jesus made this clear to us:

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

                           (John 16:33 NKJV)

Now, does this sound encouraging to any of us? ...No, not to many of us, especially at "face value". After all, there is not one of us that wants to hear that we are NOT going to have an easy life. But let's be honest. The reality is that life is not easy! It can be hard, mixed with good times and some "not-so-good", I-wish-I-could-forget bad times.  ...Some of these are really BAD! Aren't they? ...But this is reality.

Now, if you are going through a difficult time right now. I don't have to do much convincing, do I?

But what He did promise us?

Let's read this last verse again, but this time, take a closer look:

  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

                             (John 16:33 NKJV)

'In Me you WILL have peace'. Did you take notice of that? That He would (and will) give us His peace! Real peace, inner peace, the kind that only He can give us, but often times we miss this. In our human need to run from the troubles and trials of this world. We often miss this one very important point. That God will see us through the trials with His peace! But what is this peace? It's the internal peace that only He can give us. The kind that can stand firm, even though the bottom of the world would fall through! The kind that says, "I am truly at peace, even in the midst of my trial". Why? Becuase I know, my God knows me, loves me, is watching out for me, and knows all! He is my creator, and the creator of this world!!

Now, not only does He promise us His peace, but look again at the end of the verse:           

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

What does it also say, most important of all? He HAS overcome the world! What does this mean to us?

If He has overcome the world, than as His children, we have too:

  "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

                                (1 John 5:5 NKJV)

So what do we do?

We re-focus:

"Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

       no shadow of shame will darken their faces."

               (Psalm 34:5 NLT)

 We turn to Him and ask Him to help us, guide us and give us His peace:

 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

                  (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV)

You know it is so easy, when we are going through the trials of life. To become focused on the circumstances of our situation, especially when they are going badly, or getting worse. It is however important, especially important in these times, that we must "re-focus". Get our eyes back on Christ and pray and read His word. There is no substitute in this life for the help, guidance and comfort of Christ! 

And here's a little parting thought:

  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

                                 (John 14:27 NKJV)